India’s agricultural sector stands at the cusp of a digital revolution. The Union Cabinet’s approval of Rs 2,817 crore for restructuring the Digital Agriculture Mission aims to elevate rural socio-economic conditions, building on the existing impact of digitization and AI.

Infiltration of Technological Advancements in Indian Agriculture

• Willingness to Embrace Technology: Indian farmers have demonstrated both the ability and readiness to adopt new technologies, including modern ICT tools.
• Integration of Technology in Daily Life: Many farmers and rural youth now regularly use cell phones, computers, and internet-based communication for personal and professional purposes, with a higher number of mobile phone users in rural areas compared to cities.
• Rising Internet Usage in Rural Areas: According to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and KANTAR, out of approximately 820 million internet users in 2023, around 442 million (53%) were from rural areas. This figure is expected to rise to 56% by 2025.

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Government’s ICT-based attempts in bringing about agrarian revolution

• Kisan Suvidha App (2016): This app provides farmers with crucial information on weather, market prices, plant protection, and connects them to Kisan call centers where experts offer guidance in local languages.
• “Agri-Stack” Initiative: Part of the Digital Mission, it assigns each farmer a digital identity, similar to Aadhaar. This enables direct benefit transfers from government schemes to farmers’ accounts, ensuring transparency.
• Krishi Decision Support System: Gathers remote-sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources, with the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey System helping to accurately estimate crop yields.
• Kisan e-Mitra Chatbot: Offers pest and disease monitoring via drone surveillance, satellite-based crop assessments, direct connections with online buyers, and sends SMS updates on mandi prices, weather, and crop procurement schedules.
• Collaborative Effort: The Centre has signed MoUs with 19 states to expand these digital facilities, enhancing agricultural efficiency nationwide.

Positive impact of the introduction of Digital Facilities in farming

• Reduced Agrarian Costs: Technology enables farmers to better estimate input needs, reducing costs.
• Efficient Fertiliser Use: Accurate soil analysis allows for optimal fertiliser application, improving soil health and yields.
• Enhanced Resource Management: Farmers can now manage resources more efficiently, minimising waste.
• Optimised Labour Costs: Digital tools help streamline labour requirements, leading to cost savings.
• Disease Prevention: Early detection and control mechanisms reduce crop loss from diseases.
• Lowered Crop Failure Risk: Improved forecasting and monitoring mitigate risks associated with crop failure.
• Direct Market Access: Digital platforms connect farmers with mandis directly, reducing market uncertainties.
• Informed Decision-Making: Data-driven insights empower farmers to make smarter choices for productivity and profitability.

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Conclusion

Interestingly, digitization promotion is getting a good response from farmers. Such reassuring reactions from the farm organisations should spur the government to further accelerate the pace of digitization in the farm sector.

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